Compound bail



UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEToE.

BENJN. H. LATRoBE, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

l COMPOUND BAIL.

Specification of Letters Patent N o. 5,749, dated September 5, 1848.

To all whom t may concern.' n Be it known that I, B. H. LATROBE, of

whichforms a part of the same, in which--v Figure 1, is a cross section of the rail; Fig. 2, a longitudinal elevation of the rail.

In compound rails hitherto constructed and essayed the parts consist of two distinct rails, neither of which are necessarily dependent on the other, and they may be properly called a combination of rails rather than a compound rail, in which each part is dependent on the others. Of this latter character my invention is, and in their combined parts there is a mutual dependence one on the other, and the elements, when combined, form a whole, incapable of being used separately and serving to support each other and resist the strain they are subjected to by the passage of heavy trains over them.

My rail is composed of three part-s, by which I secure an approximation to a uniformity of strength in the combined bar by breaking the joints at two points instead of one, which is all that can be effected by the former modes; and it can be applied in many cases where the other could not, and in all varieties of superstructures where the T, H or n rail can be used.

In those compound rails that have .heretovfore been made, the lower rail is necessarily constructed of cast iron, but mine can readily be formed in all its parts of rolled iron, which material I intend ink general to i. i.

form it of, although the lower bars may be cast if found desirable. i

The construction is as follows: There are two L shaped pieces which form thebase of the rail. These are marked a in the drawing, the horizontal flanges being placed in opposite directions so as to bring the upright parts together; these upright parts spread a little at top, andhave an enlargement, or lip I), on their inner edges; the

top bar c is made flat, with a dovetail rib df on its under side and along the center thereof; this rib descends between the lips of the lower pieces a which embrace the rib while the fiat part of the under side of the top bar rests on the top of the said L pieces; a

bolt c binds the lower pieces together and causes them to rmly embrace the rib d on the top bar and draw it ldown securely to it-s place. The lower bars a, a, can be fastened in any ordinary way to ,the superstructure of the road according to its nature.

By the above plan a durable and convenient rail is constructed, well suited to any service that the heaviest trade requires' Having thus fully described my improved compound rail, what I claim as my invention and desire to secure by y*Letters Patent is y l The combination of the cap rail and base rails substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

. BENJ. H. LATROBE.v Witnesses: y

H. R. HUSLIKURS,

C. H. LATROBE.Y 

